The Slender Waist-Chapter 540 - 385: The Lady of Voices_2
Feng Yun asked unexpectedly, "You’re not going back to Xijing?"
Ao Qi replied, "Officers should be stationed outside, how can we spend all our time enjoying the comforts of the capital?"
Yuan Shangyi listened to this answer and seriously nodded her little head.
"General Ao, Xijing isn’t fun, you should just stay in Andu, stay in Huaxi Village."
Had they already become so close in just a short period of time? They spoke without a trace of reservation?
Feng Yun smiled, looking at Ao Qi.
Ao Qi said, "I would indeed like to stay in Huaxi. However... as a humble officer, I have military orders to fulfill, and in three days, I must report to Shiguan."
Feng Yun asked, "Shiguan?"
Ao Qi hummed softly, he had nothing to hide in front of Feng Yun and Yuan Shangyi, and said gravely, "Yecheng has been restless lately, the Red Armor Army will soon move to Shiguan, to prevent Yecheng from counterattacking."
Shiguan, further east of which lies the territory of Yecheng Imperial Court; it was not strange for the Beiyong Army to make such arrangements.
What was strange was...
Wasn’t Ao Qi supposed to get married?
Feng Yun still remembered that he had accepted a marriage proposal in the Mahe Tribe.
She hadn’t asked just then because she was waiting for Ao Qi to mention it. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
If Ao Qi didn’t mention it, then she would show some concern.
"What will happen to your marriage if you go to Shiguan?"
The smile on Ao Qi’s face faded, his brows knitted slightly, and he said distantly, "I am still young, there’s no rush. A man should focus on earning achievements and establishing a career, it won’t be too late to consider marriage after reclaiming Yecheng."
Reclaiming Yecheng...
Even Pei Jue thought there was no hope within three years, how long would Ao Qi wait?
In this era, with the situation volatile and wars frequent, people were eager to marry off, and the six marriage rituals were often in name only. Aristocratic families adhered to ritual propriety, marrying later than commoners, but it was not uncommon for men to marry at sixteen or seventeen...
She said, "Can the bride wait that long?"
Ao Qi pursed his lips and pondered for a moment, "She can wait, I guess."
Without elaborating, Feng Yun found it inappropriate to inquire further.
She ordered the maidservants to come in and clear the bowls and chopsticks, sent Yuan Shangyi back to Yangxin Restaurant, and then returned to the study to read.
Ao Qi went to find Ye Chuang and others for a chat.
Back when they were together in the Imperial Guard Camp, no one knew he was the son of Ao Zheng or the nephew of Pei Jue; they were as close as brothers, talking about everything.
Today, the circumstances had changed drastically.
General Ao returning from Xijing, Ye Chuang greatly overjoyed, called upon friends, gathering a bunch of guards for a small drink in the courtyard filled with roses.
The afternoon sun was scorching, yet the flowers in the courtyard bloomed brilliantly.
Under the shade of the trees, the brothers were playful and cheerful, bringing up Ao Qi’s "heroic act" of agreeing to a marriage on the battlefield, while Ao Qi himself was somewhat disinterested, occasionally glancing towards that tightly closed door.
Entering through that door would lead to Feng Yun’s residence.
Initially assigned to protect her, he often lingered outside her window.
At first, he was reluctant and full of complaints, but later, he would willingly exchange shifts with his brothers, just to guard her closely.
Feng Yun would never know of the many deep nights when she had long fallen asleep, he stood there with his sword, staring at the moonlit shadows, conjuring dreams after dreams, only to have them all shattered...
"Drink up, why aren’t you drinking?"
Ye Chuang nudged him, catching a glimpse of the wistfulness in his eyes.
"Stop looking."
The other brothers teased, unaware of his thoughts, laughing and joking.
"Just got to Andu on the first day, are you already missing your little wife?"
Ao Qi curled his lips into a faint smile and lowered his head to finish the wine in his cup.
It was all bitter.
Throughout the long eight months, he had been restraining himself, not writing letters, not communicating...
Yet those feelings did not diminish as time stretched on; instead, due to deprivation and too much longing, they became deeply engraved in his heart.
Ye Chuang said, "You don’t know how many brothers envy you."
Ao Qi glanced sideways, "What are you envious of?"
Ye Chuang raised an eyebrow, "What else could I envy? I envy the military fame you’ve achieved, the limitless prospects ahead of you."
The natural privileges of a noble family cannot be envied, yet Ye Chuang deliberately spoke with a sour edge.
Ao Qi clinked glasses with him and lowered his eyes.
"You don’t know how much I envy you."
Being able to linger outside her window, to guard her all night, to see her as soon as I push the window, to be involved in every little thing of her life...
Ye Chuang sighed softly, lowered his head, and drank without a word.
The others burst into raucous laughter, challenging him, calling him a hypocrite, insisting that he be punished with drink.
Ao Qi said nothing, merely smiled, welcoming all comers.
Having three days off, he had no duties to attend to and could drink freely, so he didn’t avoid anything. He kept eating until dusk turned to night, and by the time everyone left, his cheeks were flushed red, and he was thoroughly drunk.
"Ye Chuang." He patted Ye Chuang’s shoulder, reaching to take his waist knife, "I’ll take the night watch for you."
Ye Chuang held his hand, "That won’t do."
Ao Qi raised his eyebrows, discontent on his face.
"Why not? What’s stopping it? It’s not the first time."
He muttered softly, pushing Ye Chuang away, and staggered toward Feng Yun’s house, leaning on the waist knife.
Ye Chuang saw his stumbling steps and hurriedly came forward to support him, reminding him in a low voice, "Times have changed; you’re no longer the guard Ao Qi, you are General Ao now."
Ye Chuang emphasized again.
"How dare I allow the general to take on my duties?"
Ao Qi shook off Ye Chuang’s hand, "Having someone take over your duties is a good thing, get out of here."
Ye Chuang took a deep breath and pulled him back, "Ao Qi, listen to me, you’ve had too much to drink. Let me help you back to rest. Come morning, when you wake up, you’ll understand why..."
"I know. What don’t I understand..."
Ao Qi stared at him, "If you don’t let go, shall I let the little alligator bite you?"
Ye Chuang:...
He slowly let go.
Not because of what Ao Qi said, but because Feng Yun had come over.
The little alligator followed at her heels, ran over when it saw them, and began circling Ao Qi, making affectionate noises, clearly fond of him.
Ao Qi’s legs were weak; he could barely stand. He bent down to pick up the little alligator, steadying himself, then leaned his head on its neck, his head bowed, and after a while, low choking sounds could be heard.
"Only you feel sorry for me, little one, only you would feel sorry for me..."
Ao Qi was quite beside himself.
Holding the little alligator, he was tear-streaked.
No one knew what had happened, and all were surprised.
Feng Yun was silent for a moment, "You should all go now."
She had to maintain General Ao’s dignity; otherwise, this incident would become a joke, mentioned for a lifetime, a stain on General Ao’s reputation.
The crowd complied, exiting one by one.
Ao Qi slumped entirely over the little alligator, weeping uncontrollably.
Feng Yun approached, sighed, "Luckily, the little alligator has grown. If it were still small, you surely would’ve squashed it."
Ao Qi looked down, saw the delicate embroidered shoes appearing in his eyelids, sat down slowly on the ground, holding the little alligator and looking up at her, like a helpless child.
"Lady, I want to go catch fish..."
"Lady, I want to stay and keep the little alligator company..."
"Lady, I want to be your guard, to stand below your window..."
"Lady, I really want to be your cat, your little alligator..."
"Lady..."
"Lady..."
"Lady..."
